Bio-degradable Compostable Container Closure

ABSTRACT

A bio-degradable compostable container closure is presented. The container closure includes a top surface, a cylindrical side wall extending from the top surface, and a thread on an inner surface of the side wall capable of mating with a thread on the neck of a container and capable of securing the closure to the container. The closure is comprised of a biodegradable and/or compostable plastic resin.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/166,335 filed on May 26, 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Composting of plastic articles provides an environmentally friendlymethod of disposal where the product is made from a compostable plastic.One of the largest volume products being made from conventional plasticat this time is the container closure in various volume configurations.The container closure is typically used on bottles of water, softdrinks, and other fluids. The cap or closure adds a non-compostablematerial to the mix and prevented composting of the discarded container.

SUMMARY

Conventional mechanisms such as those explained above suffer from avariety of deficiencies. One such deficiency is that conventionalcontainer closures intended for this type of use are not bothbi-degradable and compostable. As defined herein, a product isbiodegradable as long as it will completely break down and return tonature (i.e., decompose into elements found in nature) within areasonably short period of time after customary disposal. In otherwords, the item will continue to disintegrate into small pieces untilmicro-organisms consume it. For an item to be marked compostable, theremust be scientific evidence that the materials in the item break down,or become part of, usable compost in a safe manner in an appropriatecomposting facility or home compost pile.

The main difference between biodegradable and compostable is the latterbreaks down into “humus,” which provides valuable nutrients to the soil.Biodegradable products just return to nature, disintegrating ordisappearing completely. This disintegration could take a week oryears—another difference with compostable. Finally, compostable itemsmust completely break down and not release any metals or toxins into thecompost. Biodegradable products can leave metal residue in their returnto nature.

Biodegradeable refers to the breakdown of the carbon content of thematerial in a “reasonable timeframe”. This timeframe is loosely defined.There are four specific criteria for a material to be labeledcompostable. First, it must biodegrade—at least 90% carbon content mustgo away within 90-180 days. Second, it must disintegrate—at least 90% ofthe material must disintegrate within 84 days. Third, it must notcontain heavy metals above concentrations defined by North America or EUrestrictions. Fourth, the disintegrated content must support futureplant growth as humus. These four conditions are tested per the ASTMD6400 standard.

Embodiments of the invention significantly overcome such deficienciesand provide mechanisms and techniques that provide a container closurewith specific geometry and manufacturing method allowing a fullyfunctional product to be produced using compostable and/orbio-degradable plastic resin.

Note that each of the different features, techniques, configurations,etc. discussed in this disclosure can be executed independently or incombination. Accordingly, the present invention can be embodied andviewed in many different ways. Also, note that this summary sectionherein does not specify every embodiment and/or incrementally novelaspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention. Instead, thissummary only provides a preliminary discussion of different embodimentsand corresponding points of novelty over conventional techniques. Foradditional details, elements, and/or possible perspectives(permutations) of the invention, the reader is directed to the DetailedDescription section and corresponding figures of the present disclosureas further discussed below. All examples and features mentioned belowcan be combined in any technically possible way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A comprises a top view of a bio-degradable compostable containerclosure in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1B comprises a side view of a bio-degradable compostable containerclosure in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1C comprises a cut-away side view of a bio-degradable compostablecontainer closure in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing embodiments of the invention. Upon readingthe following description in light of the accompanying figures, thoseskilled in the art will understand the concepts of the invention andrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiment set forth herein; rather, this embodiment is providedso that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Theterminology used in the detailed description of the particularembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended tobe limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer tolike elements.

The presently described bio-degradable compostable container closurewill be described with respect to the bottled water industry; howeverthe invention is not limited to this particular industry.

Referring to FIG. 1A-1C, the biodegradable compostable container closure(e.g., a bottle cap) 10 is shown. The biodegradable compostablecontainer closure is comprised of a biodegradable and/or compostableplastic resin. The resin may contain organic or inorganic filler. Thebiodegradable compostable container closure 10 includes a top surface12, a cylindrical side wall 14 extending from the top surface 12, athread 18 on an inner surface of the side wall 14 capable of mating witha thread on the neck of a container and capable of securing the closure10 to the container. In some embodiments the sidewall 14 may include atextured surface to make gripping and removal of the closure 10 easier.

The closure 10 further includes a tamper evident portion. The tamperevident portion comprises a ring 16, a plurality of fracturable elements22 disposed between a bottom surface of the sidewall 14 and the ring 16.When the container closure 10 is initially removed from a container, thefracturable elements 22 are broken and the sidewall 14 is separated fromthe ring 16, indicating the container has been opened. Once the closurehas been removed and separated from the tamper evident portion, theclosure may be reinstalled and removed one or more time.

The closure further comprises a plurality of inward facing tabs 20disposed about a bottom of a surface of the ring 16. The plurality ofinward facing tabs 20 are disposed at an angle with respect to saidbottom surface of the ring 16. The inward facing tabs 20 maintain thering 16 to the bottle once the ring 16 is separated from the sidewall14.

In a particular embodiment the closure 10 has an outside diameter ofapproximately 30.27 millimeters. The sidewall has a length ofapproximately 15.88 millimeters and the ring has a length ofapproximately 4.27 millimeters.

Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles“a” or “an” to modify a noun may be understood to be used forconvenience and to include one, or more than one of the modified noun,unless otherwise specifically stated.

Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are describedand/or otherwise portrayed through the figures to communicate with, beassociated with, and/or be based on, something else, may be understoodto so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a directand/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.

Although the methods and systems have been described relative to aspecific embodiment thereof, they are not so limited. Obviously manymodifications and variations may become apparent in light of the aboveteachings. Many additional changes in the details, materials, andarrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, may be made bythose skilled in the art.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will nowbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that otherembodiments incorporating these concepts may be used. Accordingly, it issubmitted that that the invention should not be limited to the describedembodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container closure comprising: a top surface; a cylindrical side wall extending from said top surface; a thread on an inner surface of said side wall capable of mating with a thread on the neck of a container and capable of securing said closure to said container; and wherein said closure is comprised of one of a group consisting of a biodegradable plastic resin; and a compostable plastic resin.
 2. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said plastic resin contains organic filler.
 3. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said plastic resin contains inorganic filler.
 4. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a tamper evident portion.
 5. The closure of claim 4 wherein said tamper evident portion comprises: a ring; and a plurality of fracturable elements disposed between a bottom surface of said sidewall and said ring.
 6. The closure of claim 5 wherein when said container closure is initially removed from a container, said fracturable elements are broken and said sidewall is separated from said ring, indicating the container has been opened.
 7. The closure of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of inward facing tabs disposed about a bottom of a surface of said ring.
 8. The closure of claim 7 wherein said plurality of inward facing tabs are disposed at an angle with respect to said bottom surface of said ring.
 9. The closure of claim 1 wherein said closure has an outside diameter of approximately 30.27 millimeters.
 10. The closure of claim 1 wherein said sidewall has a length of approximately 15.88 millimeters.
 11. The closure of claim 1 wherein said ring has a length of approximately 4.27 millimeters.
 12. The closure of claim 1 wherein an outside surface of said sidewall is textured. 